November 13, 2008

Belly-up to the bar, ladies and gentlemen! There’s plenty for everyone!

It was only a matter of time, really. Once the government started passing out money by the billions, everyone comes running. Auto makers, airlines, huge conglomerates, and now state governors and city mayors are all asking Momma Government for generous handouts. Who’s next?, I wonder. Bowling alleys? Shoe repair shops? Carnival workers? Starbucks? That merry band of Con-men, oops, Congressmen (and women) just keep writing checks while “Saved by Zero” plays softly in the background (no offense to The Fixx).

I’m beginning to think the guy was right who called in to a radio talk show during the hagling over the $700b bailout bill and suggested it would be cheaper and help more people if the government just sent $1million checks to all 350-million Americans. Of course, my first thought was, “Yeah, right. That would only cause run-away inflation.” But, how would that be worse than what is sure to result from the welfare feeding frenzy we’re seeing right now? The national debt is rapidly climbing toward infinity, and all the so-called “relief” from the government is most likely to cause even more pain in the future, as is usually the case with government “solutions.” If businesses and individuals no longer have to opperate by sound principles and strategy, knowing they have the government to bail them out when they drop the ball, what do you think will happen to productivity and growth? And, who’s going to pay the bill for all of this fiscal largesse, anyway? Our children, grand-children and great-grandchildren – if they can.

What happens if Russia and China and others decide to throw down a serious military challenge and we no longer have an economy strong enough to field sufficient forces to meet it? Appeal to the French? Non merci!

The American people need to wake up and demand fiscal responsibility from the government and one another. Let those businesses fail that should fail, and let others take their place. Would that hurt? Sure. But we can get through it. And, we’ll be stronger on the other side. The present course we are on will only make us weaker and more vulnerable to our enemies. STOP the money presses, please!